WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
4 October 2007 
 
 (07-4229) 
Council for Trade Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English 
 
 
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: 
INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS 
 
JAPAN 
 
Addendum  
  
 The following communication, dated 29 September 2007, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Japan.  
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I. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL 
PROPERTY RIGHTS 
A. V
OLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR WIPO  FUNDS -IN-TRUST /JAPAN  
1. Since 1987, the Government of Japan (GOJ) has been providing voluntary contributions in 
the field of industrial property to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  The "WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan" (FIT/JP) in the field of i ndustrial property was established with these voluntary 
funds.  The FIT/JP is used annually to finance various projects for WIPO member States in the 
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Paci fic (ESCAP), such as the holding of IP office 
conferences or symposia, acceptance of trainees and IPR research students, dispatch of Japan Patent Office (JPO) officials and support for the automation and modernization of IP offices.  The voluntary 
fund for the Japanese fiscal year (FY) 2007 amounts to ¥178.21 million. 
B. H
UMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT  
1. Training Programme 
2. In order to support developing countries obligated  to implement the TRIPS Agreement, Japan 
has been receiving trainees from these countries.   Between April 1996 and March 2007, Japan 
received 2,576 trainees in both th e public and private sector from primarily 42 countries and one 
economy in the Asia-Pacific region.  In the future, with the goal of the efficient implementation of 
laws in mind, Japan is scheduled to proceed w ith human resource development activities emphasizing 
the area of enforcement of intellectual property rights. 
(a) Training programmes for government officials 
3. The JPO has been holding group training courses about industrial property rights for 
government officials.  In FY 2006, the followi ng ten group training cour ses were held and 191 
participants in total received training: IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
Page 2  
 
   For APEC member economies 
 
 - "Group Training Course in Intellectual Property for APEC Economies" is a one-
month course for administrative official s working in areas related to IPR and 
examiners of IPR.  Trainees are divided into four groups according to their 
specialities:  IP dissemination and educa tion, patents, industrial designs, and 
trademarks. 
  - "IP Enforcement Workshop for Indonesian Officials" is a two- week course for the 
members of the National Team tackling infringement of IPR in Indonesia. 
 
4. These training courses are implemented by the JPO and the Japan International Cooperation 
Agency (JICA) in cooperation with and the Asia-P acific Industrial Property Center (APIC) of the 
Japan Institute of Inve ntion and Innovation (JIII). 
 For the ESCAP region 
 
 - The "Training Course on the Enforcement of IPR under WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan" 
is a two-week course for senior officials engaged in the enforcement of IPR in 
enforcement-related government agencies. 
  - The "Training Course on the Use of Information Technology in IP Administration 
under WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan" is a two-week course for senior officials of IP 
offices responsible for information technology matters. 
  - The "Training Course on the Examina tion Practices of Industrial Property under 
WIPO Funds-in-Trust/Japan" is a three-week c ourse for examiners in the field of IPR.  
Trainees are divided into three groups acco rding to their specialities:  patents, 
industrial designs, and trademarks. 
  - The "Training Course on Industria l Property Administration under WIPO 
Funds-in-Trust/Japan" is a two-week course fo r senior officials in IP offices in charge 
of general administration and policy planning. 
 
 - The "Training Courses for patent exam iners on specified technologies under WIPO 
Funds-in-Trust/Japan" are five-day courses for patent examiners.  Three kinds of courses were held in FY2006; biotechnolog y, pharmaceutical technology, and 
computer program. 
 
5. These seven training courses are organized by the WIPO and managed by the JPO in 
cooperation with the APIC of JIII. 
 - The "Group Training Course on Intellectual Property Protection for Chinese 
Officials" was a five-day course for patent examiners and judges who treated intellectual property matters. 
 
6. The training course was implemented by the JPO and the JICA in cooperation with the 
APIC/JIII. 
7. Three-week training Course on the legal system of IPR and the Enforcement of IPR is 
implemented by the JICA in cooperation with th e WIPO and Kyoto Comparative Law Center (Non-
Profit Research Organization) for officials engaged in  the enforcement of IPR in enforcement-related 
government agencies of South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia in FY 2006.  IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
 Page 3 
 
 
   
(b) Training programmes for the private sector 
8. The JPO has also been holding the following group training courses on industrial property 
rights for trainees from the private sector: 
 - "JPO/IPR Training Course for Lawyers" 
 
 Trainees of this three-week course include patent attorneys and/or IP lawyers, 
corporate employees engaged as liaisons for legal affairs dealing with licence agreements and infringement of rights , among other things, and judges and/or 
prosecutors. 
 
 - "JPO/IPR Training Course for IP Trainers"  
 Trainees of this three-week course are  employees at universities or research 
institutions involved in education on the intellectual property system and those 
engaged in the dissemination of the IP R in IP promotional organization. 
  - "JPO/IPR Training Course for Advanced IP Practitioners"  
 Trainees of this three-week course incl ude IP practitioners in private businesses, 
patent attorneys, IP lawyers, and employees at patent/law offices, and persons 
undertaking guidance of business at IP promotional organizations. 
  - "JPO/IPR Training Course for Advanced IP Practitioners working at Japanese Firms"  
  Trainees of this three-week course fo r those who are working at Japanese firms 
include IP practitioners in private businesse s, patent attorneys, IP lawyers, and 
employees at patent/law offices, and persons undertaking guidance of business at IP promotional organizations. 
  - "JPO/IPR Training Course for Chinese IP Practitioners"  
 Trainees of this three-week course for Chinese include IP practitioners in private 
businesses, patent attorneys, IP lawyers, and employees at patent/law offices, and 
persons undertaking guidance of business at IP  promotional organizations in China. 
 
 - "JPO/IPR Training Course for Patent Experts"  
 Trainees of this three-week course include patent practitioners in private businesses, 
patent attorneys and IP lawyers, and pe rsons engaged in patent work within 
organizations such as those disseminating and encouraging patent use and knowledge. 
 9. These training courses are managed by the JPO in cooperation with the APIC of JIII and the 
Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS). 
2. Long-term Fellowship 
10. Under the long-term fellowship project funde d by WIPO FIT/JP, two trainees, one from 
Malaysia and one from China, were invited to Jap an in FY 2006 to study intellectual property issues 
for a period of six months.  In FY 2006, the JPO ac cepted two trainees as the long-term fellowship, 
one from the Philippines and one from India, for about six months under an independent project. IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
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  3. Seminar on Intellectual Property Rights for Alumni Association Members 
11. The JPO have suggested to the trainees that an alumni association be established to help 
disseminate information on IP systems in thei r home countries and to keep the members of the 
association informed of current IP developments .  The JPO have conducted a follow-up seminar in 
various Asian countries for those who have complete d a training programme in order to sustain the 
fruits of the training programmes and contri bute to human resources development.  
12. When the JPO receives a request from an alumni  association to assist them in conducting an 
IP seminar, we provide them with the following t ypes of assistance:  financial assistance to meet the 
cost of holding the seminar, and the disp atching of Japanese speak ers to the event.  
13. In FY 2006, Alumni Association Seminars were held in Viet Nam, the Philippines, Thailand, 
Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. 
4. Expert missions 
14. Experts and seminar speakers specializing in various areas of IPRs are dispatched by the JPO 
through WIPO FIT/JP and JICA mainly for period s of about two weeks.  The dispatched experts 
mainly provide on-site in struction regarding examination practices, computerization and so forth. 
15. The JPO has dispatched long-term experts under JICA scheme in order to engage in JICA 
technical cooperation projects being implemented in the IP office of the respective recipient countries. 
16. In FY 2006, one expert was dispatched under the WIPO scheme and 16 experts were 
dispatched under the JICA scheme (long-term :  three persons/short-term:  13 persons). 
5. Symposia 
17. Major symposia, etc., in FY 2006 funded by the WIPO FIT/JP are as shown below: 
Title Venue/Date Theme Participants 
WIPO National Seminar Philippines 
May 2006 The Role of Marks, 
Brands and the Madrid 
System in Economic Development  50 local participants  
WIPO Asia and the 
Pacific Sub-Regional Colloquium India 
June 2006 The Judiciary on 
Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) 60 participants from 16 
Asia and the Pacific Countries and local participants 
WIPO ASEAN Workshop 
 Indonesia 
July 2006 The Automation of 
Intellectual Property Offices (IPO) and the Development of 
Intellectual Property 
Databases 70 participants from 8  
ASEAN member countries 
WIPO Asia Sub-Regional 
Workshop Sri Lanka 
August 2006 The Role of Intellectual 
Property in the Effective 
Functioning of Technology Management Offices 50 participants from 13 
Asia and the Pacific 
Countries and local participants  IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Title Venue/Date Theme Participants 
WIPO National Seminar 
 Mongolia 
August 2006 The Enforcement of 
Intellectual Property Rights for Customs Officials 50 local participants 
WIPO National Seminar Malaysia 
September 2006 Enhancing Awareness 
and Building Capacity of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises(SMEs) 
to Benefit from the 
Intellectal Property (IP) System 50 local participants 
Singapore-WIPO-JPO 
Regional Workshop Singapore 
October 2006 Patent Drafting 40 participants from 15 
Asia and the Pacific Countries and local participants 
WIPO Regional Workshop China 
November 2006 Operationalization of the 
Madrid System in Developing Countries 150 participants from 17 
Asia and the Pacific Countries and local participants 
WIPO Inter-regional Workshop 
 Indonesia 
February 2007 Intellectual Property (IP) 
and Public Awareness 60 participants from 25 
countries of the are of Asia and the Pacific and 
others 
WIPO Asia and the Pacific Sub-Regional 
Workshop Viet Nam 
March 2007 The Role of Automation 
Processes in Effective 
Management of Intellectual Property Offices and Their Business Services 40 participants from 16 
Asia and the Pacific 
Countries and local participants 
 
C. COOPERATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY  
1. Modernization of Industrial Property Administration Project in the Philippines 
18. From May 1999 to May 2003, the "Moderniza tion of Industrial Property Administration 
Project" at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Phil) to establish patent 
administration system was carried out by JICA.  Th e JPO dispatched long-term experts for technology 
transfer and human resource development.  The fo llow-up cooperation for the project was carried out 
from November 2004 to March 2007. 
2. Project for Utilization of Intellectual Property Information in Viet Nam 
19. From April 2000 to June 2004, the "Moderniza tion of Industrial Property Administration 
Project in Viet Nam", at the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam (NOIP) was carried 
out by JICA.  This project was aimed at deve loping human resources through the automation of 
administrative work in NOIP.  Since January 2005, the project for establishment of IPDL system and e-fling system has been carrying out and is sche duled to complete in March 2009.  The JPO has 
dispatched long-term experts and has supported the project. IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
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  3. Support for Utilization of Information Technology in Malaysia 
20. In Malaysia, under a JICA development stud y scheme, the JPO supported to establish an 
industrial design administration system of the Inte llectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) 
from July 2002 to February 2005. 
4. Intellectual Property Rights Administrati on through Utilization and Communication 
Technology in Indonesia 
21. In Indonesia, under a JICA development study scheme, the JPO supported the establishment 
of Intellectual Property Digital Library (IPDL) system carried out from June 2005 to March 2007 at the Directorate General of Intellectual Property Rights (DGIPR). 
5. Provision of the "Patent Abstracts of Japan (PAJ)" on CD-ROM 
22. There has been a problem of third parties obtaining patents in other countries for the 
inventions for which applications have already been filed in Japan.  To help prevent this problem and 
improve the quality of examinations in developi ng countries, the JPO has been publishing the CD-
ROM version Patent Abstracts of Japan (PAJ).  PA J contains English translations of bibliographic 
data and patent abstracts as well as representativ e drawings published in the Kokai Tokkyo Koho, 
which contains information about unexamined patent applications.  Since April 1995 to date, the JPO 
has provided CD-ROM PAJ free of charge to a bout 90 foreign organizations including major IP 
Offices and international organizations. 
6. Project to Publish (in English and Japanese) the Industrial Property Laws and 
Regulations in Effect in Various Countries. 
23. The JPO translated laws and regulations, which were related to the i ndustrial property rights 
of major developed and developing countries, into E nglish.  From 1997 to 2003, the translations were 
published as CD-ROMs equipped with searchable indexes. 
24. From 2004, the JPO provides the laws and regul ations of various c ountries and regions 
through the website of the JPO. 
D. A
SSISTANCE IN SEARCH AND EXAMINATION  
WIPO/State-of-the-Art Searches for Developing Countries  
25. The JPO has provided search reports for which pr ior art search was requested by IP offices or 
research institutes of developing c ountries through the WIPO since 1984. 
26. The JPO has created search reports on approximately 100 applications per year from FY 1998 
and has sent them to requesting developing countries through the WIPO. 
II. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF COPYRIGHT 
27. The Japan Copyright Office (JCO) has been  planning and carrying out the following 
programmes with a view to contributing to the de velopment of copyright systems in developing 
countries as well as to strengthening regional cooperation among Asia-Pacific countries.  IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
 Page 7 
 
 
  A. APACE  PROGRAMME  
28. This programme, which is called "APACE (Asi a-Pacific Copyright Systems Enhancement) 
Programme", was started in 1993 in  cooperation with the WIPO, targ eting Asia-Pacific countries.  
The APACE Programme consists of the following six activities: 
1. Annual Regional Symposium (since 1993) 
Year Venue Participants 
2003 New Delhi, India 100 participants from 20 countries 
2004 Hangzhou, China 70 participants from 15 countries 
2005 Yogyakarta, Indonesia 70 participants from 16 countries  
2006 Vientiane, Lao PDR 60 participants from 19 countries 
 
2. Training Programme in Tokyo, Japan (since 1994) 
Year Participants 
2003 12 trainees from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, th e Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and 
Viet Nam  
2004 9 trainees from Bhutan, Indonesia, Islami c Republic of Iran, Mongolia, Nepal, 
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa and Viet Nam 
2005 9 trainees from Bhutan, Cambodia, Chin a, Malaysia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and  
Viet Nam  
2006 9 trainees from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam 
 
3. Experts Missions (since 1999) 
29. This programme was started in 1999, in order to assist the countries in developing and 
strengthening infrastructure for the protection and management of copyright and neighbouring rights. 
Year Venue 
2003 Sri Lanka 
2004 Sri Lanka 
 
4. Training on Collective Management 
30. This programme was started in 2000.  It is an  on-the-job training for staffs of collective 
management organizations or governme nt officials in developing countries. 
Year Country 
2003 Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic 
Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Viet Nam, and Myanmar 
2004 Fiji, India, Islamic Republic of Ira n, Mongolia, Nepal, PNG and Sri Lanka 
2005 India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand 
2006 Indonesia, Mongolia 
 IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
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  5. National Seminar on Copyright and Neighbouring Rights 
31. This programme was started in 2000, in order to promote awareness of the protection of 
copyright and neighbouring rights, and the role it can play in cultural and economic development of 
developing countries. 
Year Venue 
2003 Mongolia and Nepal 
2004 Sri Lanka, Viet Nam  
2005 Mongolia and Myanmar  
 
B. ASIAN COPYRIGHT EXPERTS INVITATION PROGRAMME  
32. This programme was started in 1996 to invite each  year a high official in charge of copyright 
from governments of Asian countries.  Lecture and discussion meetings are organized, inviting 
Japanese experts, to share information and learn fro m each other.  The guests have been invited from 
the following countries. 
Year Country 
2003 China 
 
C. ASIA-PACIFIC COPYRIGHT AND NEIGHBOURING RIGHTS SEMINAR  
33. This programme was started in 1997, to pr ovide participating copyright experts of 
Asia-Pacific countries with opportunities to ex change information and viewpoints as well as to 
discuss possible regional common positions and/or actions in the future. 
Year Venue Participants 
2003 Tokyo, Japan 90 participants from 13 countries (ASEAN + 3 members) 
2004 Tokyo, Japan 90 participants from 12 countries (ASEAN + 3 members) 
2005 Tokyo, Japan 100participants from 10 countries (ASEAN+3 members) 
2006 Tokyo, Japan 100participants from 9 countries (ASEAN+3 members) 
2007 Tokyo, Japan 80 participants from 11 countries 
(ASEAN+3members)+Mongolia 
 D. JICA
 GROUP TRAINING COURSE  
34. This JICA training course started in 1998 in c ooperation with the JCO, to contribute to the 
copyright systems development. 
Year Participants 
2003 6 trainees from Bhutan, Fiji, Indonesia, Myanmar, Panama and Zambia 
2004 7 trainees from China, Fiji, Ghana, Malaysia, Panama, Thailand and Zambia 
2005 7 trainees from China, Colombia, Indonesi a, Malawi, Panama, Peru and Thailand 
2006 6 trainees from Bangladesh, China, Ind onesia, Mexico, Myanmar and Panama  
2007 6 trainees from Chile, Indonesia, Myanma r, the Philippines, St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines and Thailand 
  IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
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  III. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF PLANT 
VARIETY PROTECTION 
35. Through the UPOV Trust Fund of Japan, the GOJ  has supported a programme which provides 
Asian countries with seminars and workshops  on plant variety protection systems. 
36. National Seminars have been held since FY  1991 for the purpose of contributing to the 
promotion and establishment of the plant variety pr otection systems.  The Asian Regional Technical 
Meeting scheme has been held sin ce Japanese FY 2000, in order to provide some practical knowledge 
and technique relating to the plant variety protec tion, as well as to promote regional cooperation in 
variety testing. 
37. Details of the National Seminars and the As ian Regional Technical Meetings which have 
been held are as follows: 
National Seminars  
 
Year Venue 
2003 Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapor e and Lao People's Democratic Republic 
2004 China, Malaysia 
2005 Viet Nam, Thailand, Indonesia 
2006 Kyrgyz Republic 
 
Asian Regional Technical Meeting  
 
Year Venue Participants 
2003 Philippines 17 participants from Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, 
Indonesia, Lao People's Democra tic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, 
Myanmar, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and 
Viet Nam 
2004 Viet Nam 22 participants from Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, 
Indonesia, Lao People's Democra tic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, 
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, 
Sri Lanka and Thailand 
Singapore 20 participants from Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, 
Indonesia, Lao People's Democra tic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, 
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand 2005 
Iran 40 participants form Afghanistan , Azerbaijan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, 
Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan 
Tajikistan 16 participants from Iran,  Jordan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, 
Pakistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan  
Malaysia 37 participants from Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, 
Nepal, Philippines, Republic of  Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, 
Thailand and Viet Nam 
Thailand 35 participants from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao, 
Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, 
Sri Lanka and Viet Nam  2006 
Kyrgyz 
Republic 15 participants from Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, 
Turkey and Uzbekistan 
 IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
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  A. JICA
 GROUP TRAINING COURSE  
38. This JICA training course was started in 2000 in  cooperation with NCSS (National Center for 
Seed and Seedling) to contribute to the establis hment of breeder's rights protection systems. 
Year Participants 
2003 10 trainees from Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, 
the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam 
2004 11 trainees from Argentine, Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Kenya, Malaysia (2), 
the Philippines, Mauritius, Thailand and Viet Nam 
2005 7 trainees from Argentine, China, Kenya(2) , the Philippines, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe 
2006 9 trainees from Brazil, China, India, Mala ysia, Mexico, Nepal, Paraguay, Senegal and 
Thailand 
2007 11 trainees from Cambodia, China, Indonesi a, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia and Sri Lanka 
 
IV. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF BORDER 
MEASURES 
39. The Ministry of Finance of the GOJ has provide d a training course, expert mission and APEC 
workshops on the TRIPS Agreement in the fiel d of border measures for the enforcement of 
intellectual property rights.  The main purpose of these programmes is to assist in the smooth 
implementation of the TRIPS Agreement by custom s officials in developing countries in the Asia-
Pacific region.  Details of these programmes since FY 2003 are as follows: 
Training Course  
 
Year Venue Participants 
2003 Japan 18 participants from Cambodia, Ch ina, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic 
Republic, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand and 
Viet Nam. 
2004 Japan 18 participants from Cambodia, Ch ina, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic 
Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam 
2005 Japan 16 participants from Cambodia, Ch ina, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic 
Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam  
2006 Japan 16 participants from Cambodia, Ch ina, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic 
Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam 
 
Expert Mission  
 
Year Venue 
2003 Philippines 
2004 China, Indonesia 
2005 Malaysia, Philippines 
2006 China 
  IP/C/W/496/Add.1 
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  APEC Workshops on the TRIPS Agreement  
 
Year Venue 
2003 Papua New Guinea 
2005 Thailand 
2006 Malaysia 
 
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